Coogler grateful for Black Panther success 

Director Ryan Coogler, who is currently basking in the success of Black Panther, penned a letter to thank fans for their support. The superhero film set a record for the highest Monday domestic gross ever (US), with $40.2 million. 

"I am struggling to find the words to express my gratitude at this moment, but I will try. Filmmaking is a team sport. And our team was made up of amazing people from all over the world who believed in this story," he wrote in the letter. "Deep down we all hoped that people would come to see a film about a fictional country on the continent of Africa, made up of a cast of people of African descent. Never in a million years did we imagine that you all would come out this strong," he added. 

The project is among the first films from the house of Marvel Studios to have a predominantly black cast and also show a number of women of substance. It features Lupita Nyong'o, Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker and Andy Serki. 

Coogler said in the letter that it was overwhelming and moving for him and his wife to "see people of all backgrounds wearing clothing that celebrates their heritage, taking pictures next to our posters with their friends and family, and sometimes dancing in the lobbies of theatres."

Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.